Stockholm
We are going to take you on a tour of Stockholm featuring detailed look at how to spend three days in this beautiful city.
THREE DAYS IN STOCKHOLM
Something special is going on in this Swedish capital. Scandinavians are often considered to have the world's highest standard of living, with Sweden occupying the top of that ranking and Stockholm sometimes considered the number one city in the world in which to live.
So it figures there are many wonderful things for the visitor to enjoy in Stockholm, a city created by a society that truly cares about people. They believe in quality of life and have built one of Europe's truly beautiful capitals.
Stockholm offers a magical blend of efficiency and beauty, romance and common sense all working together to make your visit extremely rewarding. It is modern yet offers some of Europe's best preserved historic neighborhoods with an atmospheric mix of ancient cobbled alleys, 17th century buildings and contemporary shops.
You can easily keep busy and have fun in Stockholm for three days, but you should plan your schedule so that you cover the best things first. The most worthwhile activities are:
• Walk the Old Town
• Take a boat ride around some of the city's fourteen islands
• Visit the reconstructed historic village of Skansen
• Tour the Royal Palace and the best museums
• Check out the modern downtown
• Walk along the great pedestrian promenade of Drottninggatan
DAY ONE
One good way to start is with a visit to the Stockholm Information Service in the heart of downtown on Kungstradgarden, across from the huge NK Department Store. It is an extremely helpful place where the friendly staff can fix you up with everything in one spot.
For discount travel you can purchase a three-day transit ticket here for about $13, good for the metro, tram and bus lines in town. Or you can purchase the Stockholm Card which covers admission to nearly all museums, rides on public transit, a free one-hour boat tour, discounted bus tours and other benefits.
Walk a few blocks to the docks in front of the Grand Hotel for a short boat tour this morning, a great way to learn some history while gliding through this city of islands linked by bridges and canals.
GAMLA STAN
On your first afternoon dive into the most interesting neighborhood, the Old Town cobbled alleys of Gamla Stan, which was the medieval city center.
The narrow twisting pedestrian lanes of Gamla Stan are lined with superbly preserved old buildings which hold modern stores, so you can enjoy the historic experience while shopping.
Gamla Stan has been a place for commerce since the 12th century when it was first settled as a trading center. Because of frequent fires that destroyed the original wooden structures, most of the buildings you see today were built of brick and stone in the 17th century when Sweden was one of the strongest nations in Europe.
ROYAL PALACE
On Gamla Stan's northern edge you can visit the Royal Palace, one of Europe's largest and most elaborate palaces. Arrive in the courtyard just before noon to see the Changing of the Guards, which begins daily at 12:10 p.m., or 1:10 p.m. on Sundays.
The palace interior is typical of Europe's extravagant royal mansions. Before reaching the palace the band marches through downtown on a mile-long route that begins near the NK department store.
The main activity in Gamla Stan is simply to walk, people watch and shop along Vasterlanggatan, the fascinating shopping lane filled with an amazing variety of small shops.
You would also enjoy wandering through the small side alleys where centuries of architecture remain frozen in stone. It is much quieter a block or two away from the main crowds.
DAY TWO
MUSEUMS
You could start your second day with two outstanding museums: the Vasa Museum and the Nordic Museum.
The Vasa Museum displays a 17th century wooden warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. The ship was rescued from the sea centuries later and now stands almost perfectly preserved.
After visiting the Vasa Museum walk over to the Nordic Museum, which houses the largest collection of Scandinavian artifacts in the world, including folk art, furniture, clothing and historical exhibits.
SKANSEN
After visiting the museums take a short tram or bus ride to Skansen, the world's first outdoor museum. This vast park features about 150 houses and farmsteads collected from across Sweden and reconstructed here.
Most houses are open between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Costumed guides explain the history of each building and describe how people lived in earlier centuries.
You will also find farm animals and a natural zoo with bears, bison, elk, wolves and reindeer.
Later you can enjoy a folk dance performance with live music and traditional dancers in the amphitheater.
DAY THREE
On your final day explore the modern downtown area, visit the art museum, relax in a café and walk the famous shopping street Drottninggatan back toward Gamla Stan.
DOWNTOWN
The newer part of Stockholm includes the Opera House and the lively park Kungstragarden, often called the outdoor living room of the city. Locals relax here while children play and fountains splash.
This park was originally the king's vegetable garden, which explains the name Kungstragarden meaning "the King's Garden." In the 18th century it was opened as a public park.
Nearby you will find the Gallerian shopping mall and Sergels Torg, a modern traffic circle surrounded by contemporary buildings and plazas.
You can walk through the underground shopping arcade to cross Sergels Torg easily while browsing shops and cafés.
DROTTNINGGATAN
Continue walking along Drottninggatan, the main pedestrian shopping street of Stockholm. This lively street stretches about one mile and eventually leads down toward Gamla Stan.
It is one of the great streets of Europe, filled with shops, cafés, restaurants and crowds of locals enjoying the day.
GAMLA STAN
Before arriving in Gamla Stan you cross a canal near the Parliament where the Museum of Medieval Stockholm recreates the atmosphere of the old city.
Back in Gamla Stan you can shop for Swedish crystal, wooden toys, handicrafts and other examples of Swedish design.
If you enjoy art you might also visit the Moderna Museet or the Nationalmuseum which holds collections of Old Masters and Impressionist paintings.
FINAL EVENING
After sightseeing enjoy refreshments at the elegant Grand Hotel nearby. Another famous restaurant is Operakallaren inside the Opera House, known for its traditional Swedish smorgasbord.
That concludes three wonderful days in Stockholm. You can modify the itinerary however you like and take breaks along the way to relax at cafés or simply watch people pass by.
If you have extra time take another boat tour under the bridges of Stockholm or visit City Hall. You can also explore parks, palaces and neighborhoods outside the center using the excellent transit system.
Stockholm is one of the most interesting cities in Scandinavia, with friendly people, beautiful architecture and a strong culture that values quality of life.